Paul e



(No Model.)

P.E.MAROHAND.

ELECTRIC SWITCH. No. 557,848. Patented Apr. 7, 1896.

wi cmeooe/a K E, a? M 7 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL E. MAROHAND, OF OTTAWA, CANADA.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 557,848, dated April 7, 1896.

Application filed November 2,1895. Serial No. 567,757. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PAUL E. MARCHAND, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing at Ottawa, in the Province of Ontario and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric switches, the operation and construction of which will be hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view with the outer cover or casin g removed; Fig. 2, a vertical sectional view of Fig. 1 on the line .r r; Fig. 3, a similar view showing the parts in a different relation to one another; Fig. 4, a horizontal sectional view on the line y y, and Fig. 5 a detail view.

The present invention belongs to that class of switches designed primarily to bring into circuit two or more lines, though the construction is equally applicable to be used for a single circuit.

A designates the base, preferably of porcelain, upon which are mounted three stationary contacts a, l), and 0, each comprising a plate (I and a spring-leaf 6. Suitable bindingposts are provided for each contact.

A bridge-piece B and a plate 0 are secured to the base A opposite to the contacts a, Z), and c, said bridge and plate 0 being provided with openings near their inner ends, which openings register with an opening in the center of the base A. Mounted in these openings is a stem or shaft 1), carrying a disk E, and also provided at its upper end with a suitable insulated handle. On the under face of the disk (see Fig. 5) is a series of notches or depressions f, into which take the free ends of two springs F F, the opposite ends of said springs being secured to the plate 0. The springs tend to keep the disk and shaft normally in an elevated position, that shown in Fig. 2. Upon the upper face of the disk is formed a series of teeth G. The movable contact member comprises a cylindrical portion or body H, a web or disk I, ex tending across the upper end of said body, and a semicircular arm or sweep J, extending horizontally from the bottom of the body portion.

The disk or web I is provided centrally with an opening through which the stem 01 shaft D passes and has on its under face a series of teeth K, which are engaged by the teeth G of disk E, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

A spiral spring L is mounted between the bridge-piece B and the disk or web I, its inner end being secured to the web and the outer end to the bridge-piece. Normally, when the spring is not under tension, the parts will occupy the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. IVhen it is desired to turn on the current, the handle is turned to the right, the disk E caused to rotate, the movable contact member being carried around by reason of the teeth G and K interlocking, and the sweep or arm J passes under the spring-leaf c of the contact-piece a. In the meantime the spiral spring is put under tension and the free ends of the springs F will have been withdrawn from the notches which they occupied at the beginning of the movement and entered into the next notches, locking the movable member against any backward movement. The notches fare so spaced that the springs enter them as the movable contact closes the circuit through the different stationary contacts. Further movement of the handle to the right causes the movable contact to close the circuit through the contactb and a still further rotation through the contact c. As above described, the springs F will have slipped from one pair of notches f to the next, and so on for each additional contact-piece brought into circuit.

To break the circuit, the handle is pressed downwardly, compressing the springs F and disengaging the teeth G and K, as shown in Fig. 2. The spiral spring then throws the movable contact-piece back to its initial position, breaking the circuit or circuits.

IVhile I have described the invention as applied to a switch making a series of circuits, I do not wish to limit myself thereto, as the construction is equally applicable to a switch closing one circuit only.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In an electric switch, the combination of one or more stationary contacts; an oscillating contact; a stem or handle having a rotary and endwise movement and detachably connected to the oscillating contact; and a spring for moving the oscillating member in a direction reverse to that imparted by the handle when the stem or handle is disconnected from said oscillating member.

2. In an electric switch, the combination of the following elements: one or more stationary contacts; an oscillating contact; a stem or handle having a rotary and endwise movement; means for detachably connecting the stem or handle to the oscillating contact; a spring for moving the oscillating contact in a direction reverse to that imparted by the handle or stem; and a spring or springs for normally holding the oscillating contact in its adjusted position.

3. In an electric switch, the combination of the base provided with one or more stationary contacts; a bridge-piece secured to the base opposite said contacts; a stem or shaft having a rotary and endwise movement and provided with a disk, said shaft mounted in the bridge-piece, and said disk having teeth on its upper face, and a series of notches on its under face; springs secured to the base and taking into the notches in the under face of the disk; an oscillating contact mounted upon the stem or shaft and having teeth to engage those upon the disk of the shaft; and a spring connected to the oscillating contact and the bridge-piece.

4. In an electric switch, the combination with the base provided with one or more stationary contacts; a bridge-piece secured to the base opposite said contacts; a stem or shaft mounted between the bridge-piece and the base, said stem having a rotary and endwise movement; a disk carried by said stem or shaft and having a series of notches on its under face, and a series of teeth on its upper face; springs secured to the base and having their free ends in engagement with the notches; an oscillating contact mounted upon the stem or shaft and having teeth to engage the teeth upon the disk; and a spring secured to the oscillating contact and the bridge-piece.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two Witnesses.

PAUL E. MARCIIAND. Vitnesses:

J. BISHOP, W. L. DONNELLY. 

